New Delhi: The law intern who has accused former Supreme Court judge Justice AK Ganguly of sexually harassing her has hit out at his claim of innocence to Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam. She has has said that she will go to the police but her autonomy should be respected. In a statement, the complainant has said that anyone claiming that her statements false is showing disrespect not just to her but also to the Supreme Court of India.
"Since, the university did not have a policy against sexual harassment of women students during internship, it was indicated to me that any action would be ineffective. I was also informed that the only route for me was to file a complaint with the police, which I was reluctant to do. To preserve my own dignity as well as that of the Supreme Court," she said.
"I authorized Indira Jaising, the Additional Solicitor General of India to make my statement public. I believe that anyone claiming that my statements are false is showing disrespect not just to me, but also to the Supreme Court of India...those who have been spreading rumours and politicizing the issue, are doing so out of prejudice and malice to obfuscate the issue and escape scrutiny and accountability," she added.
Ganguly, who has been defiant in his refusal to resign as head of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission on Monday wrote to the CJI P Sathasivam saying that his side of story is unheard.
Supreme Court lawyer Harish Salve has also come out in support of the law intern. "Justice Ganguly's intemperate allegations against the intern are absurd. While some of those nailed for corruption may be cocking a snook at his discomfiture, to suggest that the intern is acting at their behest is preposterous," Salve tweeted.
In Kolkata, lawyers hit the street protesting against Justice Ganguly even as the state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged action against him in a letter to the President Pranab Mukherjee.
"We have been demanding Ganguly's resignation. The Chief Minister has also written a letter to the President. The Pres has sent the letter to the Law Minister and Attorney General," said TMC leader Saugata Roy.
Though opinion on Ganguly's resignation is divided, protest against him are taking a political colour. A march called in Kolkata for his resignation was organised by the All India Legal Aid Forum, which has clear TMC leaning.
Meanwhile, Justice Ganguly continues to question the legality of the process by which the Supreme Court is handling the case.
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